Variable pitch fluid transmission



Dec. 21 1948.

R. GOLDBERG VARIABLE FITCH FLUID TANSMISSION 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed oct, s, 1945 \N\ E W. m l wak. lf r mw M m m W Mm a P wf I m x l@ G @a m Fw EN @n E? Sw mw m on uw www W QQ uw .fm EN om ew Smm m s mmf ww mmm m3 H. Jl Ils.. mm( wm( -l l l H I H I .f 1l|1|l| 1 lill.. Hl| H .Uil I IN2.-- P 0% 2. 3J. w W V m www E uw mmm E 1w EN SN www m QS m ww m. Q EN Q www m Sm f mw Sm QQ n Q E www QQ N x E Q E E n S I nl). 9S QS Hlm Nl .NW QS Dec. 21, 194s. l R GQLDBERG 2,456,696

VARIABLE FITCH FLUID TRANSMISSION 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed 001'.. 8, 1945 -1NVENT012- RALPH GoLDBl-:RG

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ATI'CI R N EYB Dec. 2l, 1948. R, GOLDBERG '2,456,696

VARIABLE FITCH FLUID TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1945 INVENTOR.

/q .RALPH GOLDBERG Patented Dec. 21,1948l ITED Y This invention relat'es'to powertransmission in automobiles and vmore .particularlyto aclutohl'ess fluid transmission therefor.

Fluid ldrive transmissions `rof fthev conventional type comprise a viluid-filled-'cylindrer lsecuredabout the ends of a. split in thefdrve-shaft of' the-fautomobile and having -axfan inr either 'end'thereof attached to each of saidaxles. AIn 'sunhtransmissions it is impossible to' regulate the power output of the motor by. means of a fluiddrive aloneiand it is therefore necessary'to employ the conventionalgears, gear lever and clutch.

It is the object of this'inventl-on"toprovide clutchiessfluid drive '-transmissionwhich Itransfers power by means of interlaced lvane's fof variable pitch and having-many*:accompanying-advantages. I

By means of the' variable pitchuvanestofv-the present invention, Whichzzcanibezmoveditogaislippage or no-power position itiis-vpossibleftol employ a denser and more desirable weightiof-'fiuid than can be used inconventionaltsystemsfsince in a no-power position the*resistanceofthefvanes or blades causes Y. much-1 lesssres-istancethannthe: i an formerly used enabling the stopping ,off .the car" while the engine isstill idlingflAv-denser fluidin the present system Awould'=necessitate igagrgreater pressure exerted by thezdriver.onitherbrakerpedal in order to stop the car.

The use of a denser. iiuid, ;w,hich ithefrotoevan unit makes possible, :adds t to;V the percentage of power transmission to thewheels.

The 4roto-'vane vunit also .embodies .the `desirable free-wheeling feature .since :Whenlthe driver releases .the .accelerator V,pedal theivanes .move `into a no-.powerand streamlinle'dtfree@slippage position.

In its broad aspects ther-invention 'comprises interlacing rotating v-anes ofrvaria'ble pitch,-c'on nested to a drivingshaftinafluidstighthousing,

rotating the fluid therein, landother..interlacinir rotating varies,...also` of variable pitch, connected to a drivenshaftiand rotating nfresponse.. toethe rotation of the fluid.

e reo The invention will be better,:understocdvlfrom m5 the following ,detailedV description thereof with reference to the accompanying drawingslin which:

Figure 1 is a side cross-"sectional .vlewoffthe roto-vane unit;

Figure 2 is an "endrcross-secttonalviewshowing a no-power position of 4tlie'vanes thereof;

Figure 3 is an'endiview;partlyinfrcrossesecti'on, showing semi-power position "c'n'fv-ithef@variesn thereof; v v

iFigureAis/an end-view,` partly'in cross-section, showing VfullI power position of 'vanesst-hereof Figure 5-is anend view -of` the roto-vane housing, fpartly in 'cross-section; showing the vane-rotatingl system' thereof;

"-tFigure 6=is-a topiview of anend ysection thereof vand Figure'- 7'Ais \a"fragmfentary "detailed sectional lView fof the rings and supports for the' rings.

Thef-fapparatuscomprising thek roto-vanel unit includes a -motordriveni shaft I IJ, Mordinarily the drive=shfalft of f an automobile,y for Ktransmitting power/to shaft vI I andthence to the-rear wheels of the automobile; not shown.

J A metal housing`12 is mounted about the-ends orshafts 'f I 0 and -I I by means "of housing enfdsI 3 to which-housing I 2A is secured by means'of bolts I4,y :the 'point-being'lled by fluidtight` rubber gaskets I5.

Shafts I6 and-*16dl having forked bifurcated ends* I lie-fare iconnected tol -the automobile' accelerator" *pedal* byy Ymeans of rod I'Gb, which isY v'secu-redrr lthe 'ends-I Bcby a pinfI 6d. The shafts I6 and Iii extend through theends I3 ofithehous- 'ingand h-averight angle-bends I 1 andl "Id,l which ,are providedeinrthe'v :shafts I6 and I'Ba; so that a longitud-inaimotion-fof rod ISI) willreiiect `a vrotationof shafts I 6 and' I6a causing their-respective ends I 8al and-i812 to eiect'iongitudinalrmovements tof sleeve 'c-amsrl 9. =and"20 by means of Vthezcranks "I'8'c'in vshafts flf'land'ilawhich are free to rotate in space -18d.

Gams ^I'9kar1d 20`slide-on shafts '.10 and II and are engaged form-ovem'ent' in grooves" I9a and Naf-by'ends Ia and I|81),of.$s11a`fts.i6 and 18a.

Driven yvanes "2 I and' driving vanes "2 2 rotating in any suitablfiuidZlZa, such Vas oil, are 1mounte-d onriiywheels 23ar1d v2li and are rotatedby means ofthejslidingtof camsIS and20 since the cams `I`9;and'2!)have beveled ends `IFlb, andb for actuating. rocker -armsi25a' and J2 5b, pivotally mounted -at26 and'21 oniywheels'23 and"24 respectively andthe rocker armsare retained in contact with the :cam ends 'I9band 20h by. springs |90 and"2c respectively.v

""The.. inward ends 'of rocker arms aand'lzb Aeaoh havermetal vane-rods"28 and"29 respectively pivot-a11y. .secured thereto-fand,"attached, at their otherends to eccentric mean's'Za and'2`9a which 0 are' attached toone of the vane aXles`2 Ia an-d22a respectively, as' shown-in Figure 5. The said eoc'entri'c 'means 28av and 9a arev securedsto Aone of the^-metalvane axles '121| wand the eccentric'means 28a-fand fl-SiaI are connected to" f the-eecentrics f3 I and when actuated by means of shafts I6a in turn actuated by the rod |61) caused by motion of the accelerator pedal.

A central set of rotating vanes 33 is attached.

to the driven shaft I I which rotates against ball bearing seated in the driving flywheel 24. AThe central vanes 33 are of non-variable pitch. Av

plurality of supports 34 are provided and each of the supports 34 does not rotate about its longitudinal axis, but is secured to the confronting flywheels and rings as subsequently described.

The driven shaft endof the driving vanes and the driving shaft end of the driven vanes are provided with axles 2lb and 22h respectively which are journalled in annular rings 36 which are alternately connected to ilywheels 23 and 24 by supports 34 so that while the outer ring 36 is connected to one flywheel, the next ring will be connected to the opposite flywheel and so on alternately and the outer sides of the rings 36 and the inner side of the flywheels 23 and 24 are complementary grooved at 38 to the shape of ball bearings 3l as shown in Figure '7.

Referring specically to Figures l, 2 and 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that a rst group of concentric rings 36 is arranged adjacent to and spaced from the flywheel 24, there being ball bearings 3l rotatably positioned between the rings 36 and the adjacent flywheel 24, so that the rings 36 are free to rotate with respect to the ilywheel 24. Extending between each of these rings 36 and the other flywheel 23 and secured thereto is a iirst set or plurality of T-shaped supports 34 for maintaining the rings 36 in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the complemental flywheels 23 and 24. Arranged adjacent to and spaced from the other iiywheel 23 is a second group of concentric rings 36, there being ball bearings 3l rotatably positioned between the rings 36 and the adjacent iiywheel 23. Extending between each of the rings 36 in this second group of rings and the iiywheel 24 and secured thereto is a plurality or second set of T-shaped supports 34 for maintaining the second group of rings in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the complemental flywheels 23 and 24.

The following steps are included in the operation of the device as applied to an automobile.

Upon entering an automobile the ignition is turned on and the self-starter is used. This causes the motor to idle and the car is ready for motion.

The emergency brake is then released and the foot is pressed on the accelerator. No clutch or gear shift lever is used in this operation, as the foot is pressed on the accelerator shafts I6 and ISa connected to the accelerator by rod |6b actuate the cams I9 and 26 on the shafts I0 and I As these cams slide on the shafts they contact and raise rocker arms 25a and 25h. The arms by means of rods 28 and 29 and eccentrics 28a and 29a begin to rotate vanes 2| and 22 from neutral position, see Figure 2, gradually to semipower position, see Figure 3, as this is occurring the automobile engine is running faster and is driving shaft I0. Shaft I 0 is rotating ilywheel 24, iiywheel 24 is rotating its driving or impeller vanes 22, rings 36, and supports 34. This action is whirling fluid 22aI around in circular motion in housing I2, the whirling fluid exerts pressure on the driven or followingvanes 2| which in turn exerts pressure on fiywheel 23, rings 36 and supports 34 connected thereto. The accelerator is gradually depressed untilvanes 2| and 22 are in full power position. See Figure 4. From this point additional pressure on accelerator causes no change in vanes positions. It merely causes engine vof car to run faster which causes driving vanes 22 to rotatemore rapidly which in turn causes the iluid 22a to move faster and this action causes the driven vanes 2| to rotate faster. This faster rotation of vanes 2| makes the wheels of the car to turn faster through medium of flywheel 23 and shaft II. v

The automobile will gain momentum and move forward to itslmaximum speed. vThis speed is comparable to the conventional high speed gear. All that is necessary to slow down or come to a complete stop 'is the removal of the foot from the accelerator and the rapplication of the brakes. When resuming motion remove the foot from brake and use accelerator. This does not involve the use of any gears or clutches whatsoever.A

Although the presentembodiment of the invention is described in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of construction and the specific arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described as the invention obviously may take other forms. It is also toy be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a vehicle vpower transmission, a housing containing' hydraulic fluid therein, a driving shaft rotatably supported-in one end of said housing and' adapted to be 'connected to a power source, a driven shaft rotatably supported in the other end of said housing, a plurality of driving vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said driving shaft for imparting a rotaryrnotion to said fluid when said driving shaft is rotated, a plurality of driven vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said driven shaft for rotating lthe latter in response to rotation of said fluid, and means operatively connected to each o-f said driving and driven vanes for varying the pitch of the latter.

2. In a vehicle power transmission, a housing containing hydraulic` fluid therein, a driving shaft rotatably supported in one end of said housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a driven shaft rotatably supported in the other end of said housing, a plurality of driving vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said driving shaft for imparting a rotary motion tol said uid when said driving shaft is rotated, a plurality of driven vanes arranged longitudinally in said-housing and'operatively connected to said driven shaft for rotating .the latter in response to rotation of said fluid, saiddriving and driven vanes being arranged in annular concentric relation with respect to each other, and means operatively connected to each of said driving and driven vanes and operable from without said housing for varying the pitch of the latter.

3. In a vehicle power transmission, a housing containing hydraulic fluid therein, a driving shaft rotatably supported in an end of said housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a rotatable driven shaft extending longitudinally in said housing, a first flywheel positioned within said housing and secured to said driving shaft, a second flywheel in said housing arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first flywheel and secured to said driven shaft, a plurality of driving vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said first flywheel for imparting a rotary motion to said fluid when said driving shaft is rotated, a plurality of driven vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said second flywheel for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said fluid, said driving and driven vanes being arranged in concentric relation with respect to each other, a set of fixed vanes arranged longitudinally along said driven shaft and secured to the latter, and means operatively connected to each of said driving and driven vanes and operable from without said housing for varying the pitch of the latter.

4. In a vehicle power transmission, a housing containing hydraulic fluid therein, a driving shaft rotatably supported in an end of said housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a rotatable driven shaft extending longitudinally in said housing, a first flywheel positioned within said housing and secured to said driving shaft, a second flywheel in said housing arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first iiywheel and secured to said driven shaft, a first set of concentric rings arranged adjacent said first fiywheel and spaced from the latter, a plurality of T-shaped supports secured to said rings and to said second flywheel for maintaining said rings in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said second flywheel, a second set of concentric rings arranged adjacent said second iiywheel and spaced from the latter, a plurality of T-shaped supports secured to the rings in said second set of rings and to said first fiywheel for maintainingl said second set of rings in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said first flywheel, a plurality of driving vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said first flywheel and to the rings of said second set of rings for imparting a rotary motion to said fiuid when said driving shaft is rotated, a plurality of driven vanes arranged longitudinally in said housingand operatively connected to said second fiywheel and to the rings of said first set of rings for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said iiuid, a set of fixed vanes arranged longitudinally along said driven shaft and secured to the latter, and means operatively connected to each of said driving vanes operable from without said housing for varying the pitch of said drivin-g vanes.

5. In a vehicle power transmission, a housing containing hydraulic fluid therein, a driving shaft rotatably supported in an end of said housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a rotatable driven shaft extending longitudinally in said housing, a first flywheel positioned within said housing and secured to said driving shaft, a second flywheel in said housingarranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first flywheel and secured to said driven shaft, a first set of concentric rings arranged adjacent said first flywheel and spaced from the latter, a plurality of T-shaped supports secured to said rings and to said second ywheel for maintaining said rings in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said second ywheel, a second set of concentric rings arranged adjacent said second flywheel and spaced from the latter, a plurality of T-shaped supports secured to the rings in said second set of rin-gs and to said first flywheel for maintaining said second set of rings in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said first flywheel, a plurality of driving vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said first flywheel and to the rings of said second set of rings for imparting a rotary motion to said fluid when said driving shaft is rotated, a plurality of driven vanes arranged longitudinally in said housing and operatively connected to said second flywheel and to the rings of said first set of rings for rotating said driven shaft in response to rotation of said fluid, a set of fixed vanes arranged longitudinally along said driven shaft and secured to the latter, means operatively connected to each of said driving vanes operable from without said housing for varying pitch of said driving vanes, and means operatively connected to each of said driven vanes operable from without said housing for varying the pitch of said driven vanes.

RALPH GOLDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

